Binding machine

ABSTRACT

A binding machine having two articulated shells in the internal faces of which is formed a continuous passageway for permitting a binding wire to encircle a bundle of articles. A rotary twisting head is disposed adjacent the shells and is provided with two slots for gripping the two crossed ends of the wire which extends around the bundle. The two articulated shells are provided with noselike extensions which overlie the slots disposed in the twisting head for substantially closing the slots and thus providing a positive guide structure for ensuring that the wire is properly fed into and discharged from the passageway formed in the shells.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [54] BINDING MACHINE 5 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI .f 100/26, 100/31 [5 1] Int. Cl B6Sb 13/04 [50] Field ofSearch l00/26, 31

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,851 4/1956 Fryerl00/26X 3,012,497 12/1961 Fryer 100/26 3,234,870 2/1966 Missioux 100/26Primary ExaminerBilly .I. Wilhite Att0rneyWoodhams, Blanchard & FlynnABSTRACT: A binding machine having two articulated shells in theinternal faces of which is formed a continuous passageway for permittinga binding wire to encircle a bundle of articles. A rotary twisting headis disposed adjacent the shells and is provided with two slots forgripping the two crossed ends of the wire which extends around thebundle. The two articulated shells are provided with noselike extensionswhich overlie the slots disposed in the twisting head for substantiallyclosing the slots and thus providing a positive guide structure forensuring that the wire is properly fed into and discharged from thepassageway formed in the shells.

PATENTEU JAN26 IBYI SHEET 1 [IF 4 ay #6 I f M M. :0

BINDING MACHINE Machines of this type are employed in particular insteel works for tying coilsof wire or fagotting rods and are constructedin various forms and sizes. However, the operation of such machines issometimes faulty. In particular. the metallic binding wire has atendency to escape in the vicinity of the entrance or exit of thepassageway which is formed inside the shells.

The present invention is primarily intended to overcome thisdisadvantage and is accordingly directed to a binding machine of theabove-mentioned type which is essentially characterized in that guidemeans are provided in order that the wire should be effectively guidedboth at the entrance and at the exit of the shell passageway.

Thus, the binding wire can no longer escape and good performance of thebinding machine is always ensured.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each shell is provided witha nose-shaped extension which is adapted to cover the longitudinalopening of one of the slots of the stationarily fixed twisting head whenthe shells are in the closed position so as to form two closed guidepassages for the binding wire.

By virtue of this arrangement, the two slots of the twisting head arecompletely closed by the shell noses which are applied against saidstationary head, with the result that the binding wire is thus perfectlyguided towards the entrance of the shell passageway as well as at theexit of said passageway.

As an advantageous feature, the shearing unit which cuts the bindingwire to the desired length comprises a moving portion and a stationaryportion which is disposed in the vicinity of the twisting head.

This arrangement of the shearing unit makes it possible to guide thewire prior to its admission into the twisting head.

Preferably, the clamp for gripping the free end of the binding wire isconstituted by a stationary portion which is rigidly fixed to the wireinlet shell and associated with the moving extremity of a jack which ismounted on said shell.

Thus, the binding wire is also guided as it passes out of the twistinghead between the stationary portion of the shell and the extremity ofthe jack. In addition, said clamp serves to ensure that the end of thewire is securely held in position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the twisting head isconstituted by two jaws each pivotally mounted with a certain workingplay on a barrel-shaped portion of a common rotary shaft.

This arrangement enables the twisting head to produce an effectiveclamping action on the two ends of the binding wire, even when the wirediameter is not uniform.

A clear understanding of the invention will in any case be obtained fromthe description which follows below, referencebeing made to theaccompanying drawings which show one nonlimitative form of constructionand in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified general view of a binding machine in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a part-sectional detail view on a larger scale showing aportion of said machine;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

The binding machine which is illustrated in the FIGS. comprises in thefirst place a frame 1 on which the different components of said machineare mounted. The binding wire which is supplied from a source such as areel (not shown) is delivered to the machine at 2 and passes first intoan admission duct 3, then into a duct 4 which opens tangentially into anannular groove 5 formed at the periphery ofa driving drum 6. Said drum 6is rotatably mounted on the frame I by means ofa shaft 7 and isassociated with conventional drive means (not shown in the drawings)which are capable of rotating said shaft in either of the two directionsindicated by the arrows 8 and 9 depending on requirements. The drum 6 isadditionally fitted with ajaw 10 which is intended to clamp the wirewithin the groove 5 in order that said wire should be displaced with thedrum at the time of rotation of this latter.

As it moves away from the drum, the binding wire penetrates into aninlet duct 11 which is also tangent to the groove 5 and which isfollowed by a shearing unit comprising a moving portion 12 and astationary portion 13. As is clear from the sectional view of FIG. 4,one of the side walls of the duct 11 is provided with an opening 63, theextremity 64 of a jack 65 which is fixed on the frame 1 being placedopposite to said opening. Said jack 65, the function of which willbecome more readily apparent from the following description, is sodesigned that when it is actuated, its extremity 64 moves forward so asto clamp the binding wire in position inside the inlet duct 11.

The moving portion 12 of the shearing unit is adapted to pivot about apin 14 which is rigidly fixed to the frame 1 under the action of a jack15 which is applied at one end against the frame at 16 and at the otherend against one end of the moving portion 12 at 17. Said moving portion12 is placed in the vicinity of the exit of the duct 11 and comprises ashearing duct 18 which is in alignment with the duct 11 and throughwhich the binding wire passes. The stationary portion 13 is placedimmediately at the exit of the shearing duct 18 and in a position suchthat the binding wire is cut when the moving portion 12 pivots about itspin under the action of the jack 15. In fact, as is shown in FIG. 4, theshearing duct 18 is formed in a member 66 which is capable of slidinglongitudinally with respect to the moving portion 12. Said slidingmember 66 is subjected to the action of a compression spring 67 whichmaintains said member continuously in contact with the stationaryportion 13, with the result that correct shearing of the wire may thusbe obtained irrespective of the degree of wear of the shearing unit.

After having passed along the stationary portion 13 of the shearingunit, the binding wire passes by way of a slot 40, through a twistinghead 19 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The wire then penetrates into a guide passageway 20 which is formed inthe internal face of two crescent-shaped binding shells 21 and 22. Eachshell 21 and 22 is rigidly fixed to a shaft respectively designated bythe reference numerals 23 and 24 and supported on bearings 25 which arefixed on the frame 1. Thus, the two shells which are shown in the closedposition in the FIGS. are pivotally mounted on the frame and can beopened in order to admit the coil of wire or bundle of rods to be tied.Opening and closure of said shells is carried out by means of jacks 26and 27 which bear on the shells at 28 and 29 and on the frame at 30 and31.

The guide passageway 20 must be so designed that the binding wire whichpasses out of said passageway is capable of passing across the wirewhich is admitted therein. To this end, the passage will advantageouslybe of helical shape.

In the example herein described, the binding wire which is' deliveredfrom the passageway 20 passes in front of the wire which is beingadmitted therein, then passes back through the twisting head 19 by wayof a second slot 40' and arrives along a stationary jaw portion 32 whichis integral with the shell 21. Said stationary portion 32 has the shapeof a pad in this example and is associated with the moving extremity 33of a jack 34 in order to constitute in conjunction with this latter theclamp which is intended to secure the extremity of the binding wire whenthis latter is drawn tightly around the bundle to be tied. The jack 34is mounted on a support plate 35 which is fixed on the shaft 23 and isthus coupled with the binding shell 21.

The twisting head 19 will 'now be described in greater detail. Said headis set at a fixed height and is mainly constituted by two jaws 36 and 37which are adapted to engage one inside the other and are pivotallymounted on a shaft 38 which is carried by a U-shaped support bracket 39.Between the two jaws and at the top portion of the head are formed thetwo slots 40 and 40 within which are passed respectively the portion ofbinding wire which enters the guide passageway and the portion of wirewhich leaves said passageway. Said two slots are disposed in differentplanes so as to be aligned with the entrance and exit of the passageway20. As stated earlier, said entrance and exit are laterally displaced toa slight extent in order that the two ends of the binding wire may crosseach other without coming into contact.

The depth of the slots 40 and 40' is such that, when the two jaws 36 and37 are applied against each other, the two crossed ends of the bindingwire are securely maintained each in its respective slot.

Closure of the jaws 36 and 37 is carried out by means of a cam 41 whichis of triangular shape in this example and adapted to bear on inclinedfaces 42 which are formed at the lower end of each jaw. Said cam 41 isintegral with a stem 43 which is adapted to move longitudinally underthe action of a jack 44 mounted on a support plate 45 which is fixed onthe frame 1. In fact, the jack 44 produces action on the stem 43 bymeans of a coupling unit shown diagrammatically at 46, with the resultthat said stem 43 is not coupled in rotation with the jack. in fact, thefunction of the twisting head 19 is to knot the two ends of the bindingwire in order to form a strong tie. To this end, the twisting head canbe endowedwith a movement of rotation by conventional driving means. Inthe example herein described, the rotation of the head is obtained bymeans of a jack 47 which produces action through a rack and pinion 48aon a sleeve 48, said sleeve being rigidly fixed to the bracket 39 whichsupports the jaws and within which the stem 43 is intended to slidefreely.

The jaws 36 and 37 are normally maintained in the open position by meansof two restoring springs 49 and 50, the ends of each spring beingrespectively secured to the two jaws by means of lugs 51 and 52.

As will be noted from FIG. 2, each jaw 36 or 37 of the twisting head ispivotally mounted on a barrel-shaped portion of the shaft 38, asrespectively designated by the references 53 and 54. The jaws thus havea certain relative working play which makes it possible to compensatefor irregularities of the binding wire.

ln accordance with an advantageous property of the invention, eachbinding shell 21 and 22 is provided at the level of the twisting headwith an extension'having the shape of a nose as respectively designatedby the references 55 and 56. When the binding shells are closed, that isto say in the position which is shown in the figures, said noses 55 and56 are each intended to cover one of the slots 40 and 40' of thetwisting head and thus form two closed guide passages for the bindingwire at the entrance and at the exit of the passageway 20.

The binding machine in accordance with the invention additionallycomprises a mechanism which is intended to fold back the two ends of thebinding wire'when said ends have been knotted as a result of therotation of the twisting head. Said mechanism is mainly constituted byan articulated arm 57 provided at the extremitythereof with a fork 58which partly surrounds the central portion of the twisting head in therest position. The arm 57 is pivotally mounted at 59 with respect to theframe 1 and is operated by means of a jack 60 which is applied againstthe frame at 61 and against the arm at 62.

One cycle of operation of the binding machine according to the inventionwill now be described in order to highlight the inherent advantages ofthis machine.

At the beginning of the cycle, the end of the binding wire which is cutoff by the shearing machine during the previous cycle is located at thelevel of the exit of the shearing duct 18 and the binding shells 21 and22 are in the open position. The bundle to be tied which may be either acoil of wire or a fagot of rods, for example, is accordingly placedbetween the open shells and the jacks 26 and 27 close said shellsagainst the bundle which is thus located in the intended tying position.The

drum jaw 10 being closed, the driving drum 6 is then set into rotationin the direction indicated by the arrow 8 and supplies a predeterminedlength of wire.

As it passes out of the shearing duct 18, the wire is first guidedbetween the stationary portion 13 of the shearing unit and the rear faceof the shell 22, then penetrates into the slot 40 of the twisting head19. Said slot 40 is located in alignment with the entrance of the shellpassageway 20 and, in accordance with the invention, is covered by thenose 56 of the shell 22, thus forming a closed guide passage for thebinding wire. The wire is therefore perfectly guided towards thecntrance of the passageway 20 and is in no way liable to escape.

The binding wire is endowed with a certain malleability and is thuspermitted to conform without difficulty to the circular shape of theshells 21 and 22. As it passes out of the passageway 20, the wire againpasses through the twisting head 19 by way of its second slot 40. As inthe previous instance, said second slot 40' is covered by the nose 55 ofthe shell 21 and thus forms a cldsed passageso that the wire isperfectly guided therein without being permitted to escape and isdirected so as to come into position between the clamping pad 32 and theextremity 33 of the jack 34.

The amplitude of the movement of rotation of the drum 6 is calculated sothat the length of wire delivered is just sufficient or, in other words,so that the end of the wire arrives along the pad 32 but does not passbeyond this latter to an excessive ex tent. The jack 34 then comes intoaction in order that the extremity 33 thereof should clamp the wireagainst the pad, whereupon the drum 6 is set into rotation in theopposite direction, that is to say in the direction shown by the arrow9. By means of its jaw 10, the drum exerts a substantial tractive forceon the wire and inasmuch as the free end of the wire is securelymaintained by the jack 34, the wire passes out of the passageway 20 andis applied around the bundle to be tied.

When the binding wire is well tightened around the bundle, the jack 44comes into action and initiates by means of the cam 41 the closure ofthe jaws 36 and 37 of the twisting head 19. The two crossed ends of thewire are then clamped within their respective slots 40 and 40 and, byvirtue of the fact that the jaws 36 and 37 are mounted onbarrel-bearings, are securely held in position even if the diameter ofthe wire is not strictly uniform.

lnasmuch as the binding wire is then retained by the twisting head, themachine frees the end which was retained under the pressure applied bythe jack 34 and cuts the wire at the other end. To this end, the jack 15causes the moving portion 12 of the shearing unit to pivot about its pin14, with the result that the wire is out between the sliding member 66of said moving portion 12 and the stationary portion 13. At the sametime, the jacks 26 and 27 open the shells 21 and 22.

The twisting head is then set into rotation by the jack 47 in order toknot the two ends of the binding wire in known manner. The jack 44 isthen driven in the opposite direction and the two jaws 36 and 37 whichare no longer subjected to the action of the cam 41 accordingly open andrelease the wire under the action of the restoring springs 49 and 50.

The drum 6 is then returned to its starting position as a result of amovement of rotation in the direction of the arrow 9. During thisrotation, the jaw 10 is opened and the jack 65 is also actuated in orderthat its extremity 64 should retain the binding wire within the inletduct 11. Thus, the wire cannot possibly be moved backwards by the drumand the end of the wire is consequently located at the level of the exitof the shearing duct 18 in readiness for the following cycle.

Finally, the arm 57 is lifted by the jack 60 and the fork 58 of said armfolds back the two free ends of the binding wire against the bundle.Said bundle is now provided with a strong and effective bond and canaccordingly be discharged whilst the binding machine is ready to performa further cycle of operation.

The different operations of the work cycle of the machine are naturallymade fully automatic by means of suitable known devices by the inventionwould also apply with the same effect to semiautomatic or evenhand-operated machines.

It will in any case be readily apparent that the form of execution ofthe invention which has just been described has been given solely by wayof example without any limitation being implied and that a large numberof modifications could be contemplated without thereby departing eitherfrom the scope or the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. in a binding machine including a frame having a pair of shellspivotally mounted on said frame and movable between open and closedpositions, said shells when in the open position being adapted toreceive a plurality 'of articles therein with movement of said. shellsto the closed position causing said articles to be formed into a bundle,said shells when in the closed position having on their internal faces acontinuous passageway for receiving therein a binding wire, twistingmeans disposed adjacent said shells for coacting with the crossed endsof the wire extending from said passageway for twisting the ends of thewire to form a loop in surrounding relationship to the bundle ofarticles, said twisting means including a twisting head mounted forrotary movement relative to said frame with said twisting head havingfirst and second slots formed therein for receiving therein the twocrossed ends of the wire which extend from the passageway, means forfeeding wire into said passageway and for applying traction to said wirefor causing same to be snugly disposed around the bundle of articles,clamp means mounted on said frame and disposed for gripping the free endof said wire when said free end extends beyond said passageway, andcutting means for cutting the other end of said wire to the desiredlength, the improvement comprising guide means for guiding the wire intoand out of the respective entrance and discharge ends of saidpassageway, said guide means including a noselike extension formed oneach of said shells and disposed closely adjacent said twisting head forcovering the longitudinal opening of a respective one of said slots whensaid shells are in the closed position, whereby said noselike extensionsin cooperation with said slots define two closed guide passages disposedfor direct communication with the opposite ends of said passageway.

2. A binding machine according to claim 1, in whichthe cutting meansincludes first and second relatively movable shearing portions, meansstationarily mounting said first shearing portion on said framesubstantiallyadjacent the twisting head, and means movably mounting saidsecond shearing portion on said frame for causing movement thereofadjacent to and relative to said first portion for causing shearing ofsaid wire.

3. A binding machine according to claim 1, in which the clamp meansincludes a clamp jaw stationarily mounted and fixedly secured to theshell into which the wire is initially fed, and said clamp means furtherincluding movable jack means having a movable clamp member disposed forcoaction with said stationary clamp member for engaging the free end ofthe wire therebetween, said jack means being mounted on saidlast-mentioned shell for movement therewith.

4. A binding machine according to claim 1, in which the twisting headincludes a pair of jaws and means pivotally mounting said jaws formovement toward and away from each other, said jaws when moved to anengaged position defining said pair of slots therebetween, said meanspivotally mounting said jaws further including means for permittinglimited lateral angular displacement of said jaws.

5. A binding machine according to claim 1, wherein said pair of shellswhen in the closed position extend through an angle of substantially360, means pivotally mounting one pair of adjacent ends of said shellson said frame for permitting swinging movement of said shells relativeto one another and relative to said frame, said twisting head beingdisposed closely adjacent said one pair of adjacent ends of said shellswith one of the slots on said twisting head being aligned with the inletend of the passageway formed in the wire inlet shell, the other slot onsaid twisting head being substantially aligned with the discharge end ofthe passageway formed on the wire discharge shell, the pair of slotsbeing laterally displaced relative to one another and also extending atan angle relative to one another for permitting the adjacent ends of thewire which extend beyond said passageway to intersect, whereby rotationof said twisting head causes said intersecting ends to be boundtogether.

1. In a binding machine including a frame having a pair of shellspivotally mounted on said frame and movable between open and closedpositions, said shells when in the open position being adapted toreceive a plurality of articles therein with movement of said shells tothe closed position causing said articles to be formed into a bundle,said shells when in the closed position having on their internal faces acontinuous passageway for receiving therein a binding wire, twistingmeans disposed adjacent said shells for coacting with the crossed endsof the wire extending from said passageway for twisting the ends of thewire to form a loop in surrounding relationship to the bundle ofarticles, said twisting means including a twisting head mounted forrotary movement relative to said frame with said twisting head havingfirst and second slots formed therein for receiving therein the twocrossed ends of the wire which extend from the passageway, means forfeeding wire into said passageway and for applying traction to said wirefor causing same to be snugly disposed around the bundle of articles,clamp means mounted on said frame and disposed for gripping the free endof said wire when said free end extends beyond said passageway, andcutting means for cutting the other end of said wire to the desiredlength, the improvement comprising guide means for guiding the wire intoand out of the respective enTrance and discharge ends of saidpassageway, said guide means including a noselike extension formed oneach of said shells and disposed closely adjacent said twisting head forcovering the longitudinal opening of a respective one of said slots whensaid shells are in the closed position, whereby said noselike extensionsin cooperation with said slots define two closed guide passages disposedfor direct communication with the opposite ends of said passageway.
 2. Abinding machine according to claim 1, in which the cutting meansincludes first and second relatively movable shearing portions, meansstationarily mounting said first shearing portion on said framesubstantially adjacent the twisting head, and means movably mountingsaid second shearing portion on said frame for causing movement thereofadjacent to and relative to said first portion for causing shearing ofsaid wire.
 3. A binding machine according to claim 1, in which the clampmeans includes a clamp jaw stationarily mounted and fixedly secured tothe shell into which the wire is initially fed, and said clamp meansfurther including movable jack means having a movable clamp memberdisposed for coaction with said stationary clamp member for engaging thefree end of the wire therebetween, said jack means being mounted on saidlast-mentioned shell for movement therewith.
 4. A binding machineaccording to claim 1, in which the twisting head includes a pair of jawsand means pivotally mounting said jaws for movement toward and away fromeach other, said jaws when moved to an engaged position defining saidpair of slots therebetween, said means pivotally mounting said jawsfurther including means for permitting limited lateral angulardisplacement of said jaws.
 5. A binding machine according to claim 1,wherein said pair of shells when in the closed position extend throughan angle of substantially 360*, means pivotally mounting one pair ofadjacent ends of said shells on said frame for permitting swingingmovement of said shells relative to one another and relative to saidframe, said twisting head being disposed closely adjacent said one pairof adjacent ends of said shells with one of the slots on said twistinghead being aligned with the inlet end of the passageway formed in thewire inlet shell, the other slot on said twisting head beingsubstantially aligned with the discharge end of the passageway formed onthe wire discharge shell, the pair of slots being laterally displacedrelative to one another and also extending at an angle relative to oneanother for permitting the adjacent ends of the wire which extend beyondsaid passageway to intersect, whereby rotation of said twisting headcauses said intersecting ends to be bound together.